event

Photography & Art Competition | Green Shields: Nature’s Defense for Our Future

30

Oct

We invite students, youth, and adults to take part in this creative competition celebrating the role of nature-based solutions, from green infrastructures (green roofs, green walls, gardens etc.) to coastal wetlands like mangroves in building resilient, sustainable cities!

Call for Entries!

We invite students, youth, and adults to take part in this creative competition celebrating the role of nature-based solutions, from green infrastructures (green roofs, green walls, gardens etc.) to coastal wetlands like mangroves in building resilient, sustainable cities. This competition is organised by the Institute of Science and Environment of the University of Saint Joseph, and sponsored by Drop by Drop Project, WASH Foundation, Las Vegas Sands, and Sands China.

Selected entries will be exhibited at The Venetian Macao!

Theme:

Green Shields for a Resilient and Sustainable City

Explore and express how nature acts as a protective shield for our communities. Show how green spaces, urban forests, mangroves, and other ecosystems help cities adapt to climate change and thrive.

Works focusing on the Greater Bay Area are strongly encouraged and will be given priority. 

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Categories (5 groups) 

School Category

Open Category 

(Group submissions allowed for artwork, max 5 people) 

Suggested Sub-Themes

School Category

1. My City’s Green Shield
   Illustrate or photograph a local green space, mangrove, garden, or tree-lined street that protects the community. 
2. Nature Saves the Day
   Depict how nature (e.g., mangroves, wetlands, parks) protects us from floods, heat, or pollution. 
3. My Dream Green City
   Imagine and create a sustainable, nature-rich city of the future. 
4. Coastal Guardians
   Focus on mangroves and other coastal ecosystems as protectors of the shoreline. 
5. Greener Schools, Stronger Cities
   Showcase green infrastructure or gardens in school settings as part of city resilience.

Open Category

1. Nature-Based Solutions in Action
   Capture real-world examples of green roofs, permeable pavements, rain gardens, or mangroves in action.
2. Coexistence: Nature and the City
   Explore the harmony (or conflict) between urban development and natural ecosystems. 
3. Green Shields of the Future
   Conceptual or visionary artwork showing futuristic but nature-integrated cityscapes. 
4. Resilience in the Wild
   Focus on ecosystems that naturally resist or adapt to climate change (e.g., mangroves during storms, wetlands managing floods). 
5. Hidden Green Heroes
   Highlight lesser-known green elements in the city that contribute to resilience, such as moss walls, urban forests, or bioswales.

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Awards & Prizes

Each category will include the following:

• 1st Prize：MOP 1,000 + Certificate
• 2nd Prize：MOP 800 + Certificate
• 3rd Prize：MOP 500 + Certificate
• 5 Honourable Mentions：Eco-Gift + Certificate

Special Awards 

• Climate Resilience
• Green Shield Interpretation 
• Natural Materials Award

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How to Enter

Complete the Online Registration Form

• School Category: Submission link 
• Open Category: Submission link 

Each participant must include a title (max 15 words) and a short caption (max 100 words) explaining your work.

Submit Your Work

• Digital Submissions：Upload your artwork or photograph via the online form.
• Physical Artwork (if applicable)

Mail or deliver to:

Institute of Science and Environment
University of Saint Joseph, NAPE Campus
Rua de Londres 106, Macau

Deadline 

• All entries must be submitted by 30 October 2025 (11:59 PM Macau Time). 

Artwork Submission Guidelines 

1. Formats: Drawing, painting, digital art, collage (2D preferred; 3D elements must be flat-mountable).
2. Materials: Traditional (paint, ink), recycled/natural items (leaves, sand), or digital, etc.
3. Digital artwork is allowed and may be submitted either digitally or as a printed physical version, other artwork must submit physically to:
4. Primary Coloring Contest: Please chick these here to download the official templates [template1] [template2] [template3], any coloring tools are welcome.

*Note: All artwork entries, whether submitted digitally or physically, must be accompanied by a completed registration form.

Photography Submission Guidelines 

1. Each participants may submit up to 2 photos.
2. If more than 2 are received, only the last 2 submitted will be considered
3. Photos must be in high-resolution (not less than 2 megapixels) JPEG format 
4. Basic edits (e.g., brightness, contrast) are allowed, but AI-generated images or heavily altered composites are not permitted.
5. The file name for each digital photo must contain the participant’s full name and the work’s title (e.g., “1_Chan Sio Meng_The Furture”).

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Judging Criteria

All entries will be evaluated based on the following weighted criteria:

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Terms & Conditions

1. All entries must be original and created by the participant (or group, where permitted).
2. Each participant or group may submit only one artwork.
3. For photography, each person may submit up to two entries.
4. The organizers reserve the right to disqualify any duplicate or non-original entries.
5. By submitting your entry, participants agree to grant the organizers the right to use submitted works (with credit) for educational, promotional, and exhibition purposes.
6. Participants in the School Category must provide school and class details, or their submission may be disqualified.

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Contact 

Institute of Science and Environment, University of Saint Joseph
Rua de Londres 106, Macau

Email: usjbiodiversitywash@gmail.com

By Phone: +853 6308 8316 (Mikael Leong) or +853 6340 6245 (Yolanda Lau)